At some point someone in that room threw out the name ‘Weird Waves.’
Graves did not going chasing waterfalls. Yet, he did not stick to the rivers and streams he’s used to either but instead found all manner of new strange waves. The series, called, of course, “Weird Waves,” saw Graves crisscrossing the world to find surfable rivers, lakes and streams in the first season. Sometimes with icicles hanging from his mustache. “It’s been a journey and the vision has morphed over the years,” says Graves, “but couldn’t be more stoked now that it’s out.”
Whalebone pulled up awkwardly and asked the inimitable Mr. Graves some weird questions.
How do you define “weird?”
Dylan Graves: Strange, different I guess in a traditional sense, now the word seems to be the new normal for me.
Weirdest waves you’ve ever seen?
DG: The Severn Bore live is really sci-fi. It’s small but breaks fast and packs a punch.
Which are weirder: Lake or river waves?
DG: That’s like choosing between peanut butter or jelly.
Weirdest thing about competitive surfing?
DG: Everything, competitive surfing is more like lamb and tuna fish.
Weirdest thing about being a free-surfer?
DG: People don’t truly understand how we make a living off it. It takes a conversation to break it down—if you get there with a stranger who doesn’t surf.
Weirdest thing you’ve ever seen somebody ride a wave on?
DG: Foils.
Dreaming, in general, is weird.
Weirdest thing you’ve ever eaten?
DG: Iguana or frog legs.
Weirdest animal in the world?
DG: Big Foot.
Please tell us about the weirdest dream you’ve ever had?
DG: That’s hard, dreaming, in general, is weird … the only dream that’s coming to mind at the moment is one I had while on a surf trip to Mexico with some buddies and I woke up in the middle of the night screaming NOOOOOOOOOOO after falling off a cliff in my dream, everyone was staying in the same room and woke up like “WTF, D, what’s going on!!!”
What’s weirder, “news of the weird” or just the news?
DG: News is just plain scary.
Weirdest place you’ve ever been, period?
DG: Tijuana.
What’s the weirdest thing we all do and consider totally normal, but if you stop and think about it, is really weird?
DG: Surfing.
